Richard Shaink, Mott Community College's longest-serving president, set to retire after 14 years

He's been an outstanding president, very well-respected. We hate to see him go.
- Lenore Croudy, Mott Board of Trustees chairwoman

FLINT, MI – It's been almost 14 years since Richard Shaink
took on the role of Mott Community College president.

Shaink has been president for longer than any other, since Mott became a community college in the late '60s. Charles Pappas had the second-longest term, from 1970 to 1979.

He never thought he would stay as long as he has and his
appreciation for the college, staff and the community made his next decision
even harder.

In the next six to seven months, Shaink, 71, will retire as
Mott president, a decision he and his wife, Sally, made in order to spend more
time with their children and grandchildren.

"It's one thing to
leave, but it's another thing to leave an organization when you love an
organization and working in the community," Shaink said, adding that it was the
best time to retire. "You think about it for awhile. It's got to resonate. You
have to feel comfortable. We've got to that point.

"It's the right time for us. We want to spend more time with
our family, our grandchildren. Maybe do more of other things. ... We're healthy. If we're going to move on,
this is the time to do it."

Shaink began as Mott Community College president on
March 31, 2000. Before he came to Mott, he was the president of Central
Community College's Platte Campus in Columbus, Neb.

Shaink said he doesn't know what his future will hold. He
doesn't have any jobs lined up. But he knows his time at Mott has been very
memorable.

"What an enjoyable, incredible experience I've had working
in this community. It's been incredible. ... I never thought I would be in a spot
that long," Shaink said. "What is very unique (is that) it's very rare to have
a board and a president and CEO to have such a fantastic relationship."

Shaink said typically the search for a new president
should take around six to seven months and that's why chose that as a timeline
for his retirement. If a new president isn't chosen in that time, he will
re-evaluate his plans then, he said.

However, he said he has full faith and confidence in the
Mott Community College Board of Trustees to choose someone to help move the
college forward and work with the community to create success.

The first step in the search process is to hold a community
meeting in the near future to see what people would like to see in the next
Mott president and to also see who is interested in joining the search
committee, said Lenore Croudy, Mott Board of Trustees chairwoman.

After the committee is formed, she hopes to find a
replacement within six months. Although, it's going to be tough to
replace Shaink, Croudy said.

"He's been an outstanding president, very well-respected,"
she said. "We hate to see him go. Everyone's really depressed because he's
leaving. Dr. Shaink has laid the foundation for (the new president) to continue
the outstanding leadership he has started."

Croudy said the new president needs to be honest, able to
interact with all groups and be a good leader for the executive
committee. The new president also needs to be good at listening, as well as
directing.

A rewarding
experience

Shaink had a
challenge in front of him when started as president.

He took the helm of Mott in the middle of plans for a
$34.7 million technology center. The community college also faced a
multimillion-dollar budget deficit, according to Flint Journal archives.

Shaink said when he first came to campus he held focus
groups and talked with community groups. The result was support for the
college's first operating millage in 35 years, he said.

"To me, that's really a highlight to what we've done,"
Shaink said.

Shaink said he's also proud of how the college came through
the economic downturn. Union groups across the board took concessions and
worked together to avoid mass layoffs, he said.

"I'm very proud of that," Shaink said.

He came to Mott with experience and ready to hit the ground
running.

He also brought to the table a diverse background in
business and economic development. He formerly served as vice president of
community and economic development at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha,
Neb. And he previously served as dean of instruction at Kalamazoo Valley
Community College and executive director of the Center for Small Business and
Entrepreneurial Development, as well as the director of the Job Training
Institute at Jackson Community College

He has background in sales and business, including being a
general manager of the Meridian Mall in Okemos.

He was recognized as the best community college
president/CEO in North America by the Washington-based Association of Community
College Trustees (ACCT), receiving the 2010 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive
Award at the ACCT Annual Community College Leadership Congress held in Toronto,
Ont., on Oct. 22, 2010.

Shaink has served in numerous community positions, including
as chairman of the Hurley Medical Center Board of Managers, president of the
Greater Flint Education Consortium, chairman of the Genesee Regional Chamber of
Commerce Genesee Global Action Team, chairman of the GRCC Genesee Global
Intermodal Corridor Initiative, chairman of the Public and Academic Library
Network (PALnet) and president of the National Council for Workforce Education,
as well as serving on numerous community and professional boards.

Now as Shaink decides to retire, he said he leaves Mott
Community College in a good position. The community just approved a bond that
will allow the school to borrow up to $50 million over the next several years
to pay for improvements and upgrades to campus and technology. Last year, a five-year strategic plan was approved.

The Board of Trustees is cohesive and working together,
Shaink said.

"That's really critical for the college. This is the time
that they can come together. They can look at the process they are going to
take to search out someone new," Shaink said. "They will continue to make
improvements and go forward with new initiatives and make new ones.

"The college is going in the right direction. Every one of
these board members really have the best interest of the students and faculties
at heart. That's what prompted me to say, 'You know what, this is the right
time.'"

Sally Shaink, Richard Shaink's wife, said it was not an easy
decision to make to leave Mott and the community, but they aren't done yet.

Richard Shaink loves what he does and the community has been
good to them both, Sally Shaink said.

"The people at the college have been the best in the world
and the board has been the best in the world. It's been terrific. ... We've both
grown a lot," said Sally Shaink, chairwoman of the Genesee County Humane
Society board. "We've got some time yet. We still have some things to do. We're
not done yet."

"What's been fun to watch is all the ideas he has and see
them come to fruition," Sally Shaink said of her husband. "He's had lots of success nationally
and statewide and been involved with lots of boards here. I think he's made a
big impact on all the ones that he touched."

The future of Flint and the county is bright, Richard Shaink
said. It's well-positioned for growth and success in the future, he said.

"He is an outstanding, caring leader who has played a central role in our efforts to reinvent Flint and Genesee County. Dr. Shaink has led Mott Community College through historic growth and new programs that led to him being named the top community college president in North America, generating great pride and excitement in our region," said Herman in a statement.

"I have had the privilege to work side by side with Dr. Shaink for many years; and from the beginning, he has been a valued partner with the Chamber bringing vision, heart and a collaborative spirit to every commitment," Herman said. "He is an engaged member of our Regional Leadership Council, Chairman of the Genesee Global Intermodal Corridor Initiative and Genesee Global Action Team, and a friend. I wish him the best of luck on the next chapter of his life."

Shaink believes more businesses will come and the economy is on
the upswing. The colleges working together and the three hospitals are strong
pillars in the community.

It's been an honor to watch Mott and the community change
over the past 14 years, he said.

"This is more than just a job. It's really an extension of
who I am," Shaink said. "It feels really good every day to come into work, that
we're helping people. We're not just changing their lives, we're changing the
lives of generations to come."